Conference Coffee

Just back from the conference in London I wrote about the other day: all about 'Incarnational' mission. It was good stuff. It challenged my thinking, gave me some answers and, as I suspected, left some questions unresolved. But that's ok becauase it means that the conference carries on in my head!

A few things stood out for me.

First, things haven't changed regarding the coffee machines since I was there last. Fortunately there was a coffee stand in the train station across the road and a Starbucks just down the hill. It soon became obvious that I wasn't the only one desperate for a decent cup of coffee. (Caffine - the drug of choice for Christians, right?)

One of the best things was that my sister was presenting a paper. It was excellent. It was based around the ministry that her and her husband have created in the multi-cultural/multi-faith society in the eastend of London. You can find out more about them here.

I was also good to catch up with people I know and meet new friends from around the world trying to work out what it means to be a church in the city today. If you get a chance, check out one Salvation Army area of ministry in one of the toughest neighbourhoods in Toronto.

It was a great couple of days talking, laughing, staying up late, agreeing, disagreeing, worshipping and learning.

(Big thanks to my wife who stayed at home with the kids. J, you're great!)

Waiting...

My internet connection has been really slow tonight. (Broadband with speeds up to 4mbps - yeah right!)

I noticed at the bottom of my web browser that it advises me what is currently happening with my requests to flit form one page to another. Because it's been slow tonight it has read, 'Waiting for..' and then lists the web address I had clicked on.

I smiled when I clicked on my own blog. It said: Waiting for...regularlatte
- and I felt myself standing in a line with others waiting for the barista to do what she does best.

Hmm, the internet. A possible metaphor for my life.

Crossing Cultures

Isn't it funny how relatively trivial thoughts can lead you into deeper areas of thinking...or is it just me?

For instance...

I ran into my local supermarket to get a couple of things. As I was checking-out there was a small group of 20-somethings in front of me speaking to the cashier in an other language. I'm pretty sure it was Polish. Now this isn't an uncommon experience. Encountering the "new Irish" in this way is a daily occurrence. Nothing particularly unusual. But I came away asking this question:

How do people of the same culture wind up finding each other when they live in another country? Am I just not very good at that or are other cultures more inclined to mono-cultural attraction?

As an Englishman living in Ireland for almost five years there aren't very many other Brits that I know really well despite the fact that the British are still the highest population of immigrants in Ireland. (Maybe it has something to do with not going to very many pubs?!)

Then I started going deeper in my thinking. If my purpose in life is to embody something of the person of Jesus and present him as the benefit for not only the life-to-come, but the life-right-now, then how do I do that with people from vastly different backgrounds to my own? How do I "incarnate the gospel"? Is it even possible to incarnate the gospel in an urban, multicultural, pluralistic society?

Let me put it this way: How would I, as a middle-class, 21st century Englishman living in Ireland, talk to a newly immigrated Nigerian woman in a relevant and understandable way about a Jewish man who lived in first century Palestine? I only ask because, living in the city, there is every chance that she will be behind me at the supermarket checkout.

I'm attending a conference next week that might help shed some light on this subject. However, I think it may just bring up more questions!

So where would you start? Perhaps you start with common ground. Perhaps you start with coffee.

Not much effort, really

Happy New Year to you all!

I'm not really one for new year's resolutions. I mean, really, what's the point? It only seems to lead to failure and a sense of guilt. I once thought (as a kind of anti-resolution) that I would endeavour to start smoking. My plan was to begin with the patches and work my way up to 40 cigs a day, plus the occasional cigar. And a pipe. Needless to say that due to a lack of real (or sensible) motivation, plus my inauguration into the 'No Smoking Club' at age seven I have yet to even taste a stick of nicotine gum.

However!

One resolution we can all make, regardless of the time of year, is furthering our efforts to just generally be nice to people. May I make a practical suggestion?

This evening, in order to somehow prepare me for grocery shopping, I stopped for a coffee. It still being the Christmas season, I opted for a large latte. My eyes were naturally drawn towards the comfy seats - swiftly followed by my legs - only to find half a dozen empty cups on the table and a couple of smoothies next to the chair.

In fairness it wasn't all that long before a staff member cleared the mess, but it caused me to resolve that I would clear my mess up as best I can when leaving a coffee shop thereby making life a little easier for the staff and a little more comfortable for the next customer.

Perhaps you will be inspired to similar acts of niceness in the weeks and months ahead!